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Why does the stigma of the "jerk GM" still persist in our hobby?
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<blockquote data-quote="ParanoydStyle" data-source="post: 7569355" data-attributes="member: 6984451"><p>Overall, I am probably one of the most miserable, vicious bastards you'll ever meet. EXCEPT when I'm GMing or DMing. Part of it is professionalism. Lots of the GMing I've done was of my own games at convention demos and the pressure was on to do a fantastic job (while being extremely patient and charming) in order to make the game I'm trying to sell look as awesome as it is. Part of it is pride. DMing is definitely the thing I'm best at, and it's also something I'm the best at of anyone I've ever met. So even though most days I hate everyone and act accordingly, not so while DMing. My thoughts are on having perfect form. </p><p></p><p>Anyway, I'm just chiming in that I'm a misanthropic jerk of the highest order, and a very good GM (or so every player has told me), and the two are separate, and may or may not be at all related.</p><p></p><p>Part of the answer to the OP's question is that GMing is freaking hard, and sometimes the hardest part is keeping your cool in the face of idiocy, ill manners, or both without losing your COOL. Players openly fighting over the spotlight and attempting to have their characters do terribly suicidal or flat out impossible things is all stuff a GM just needs to be able to take with a smile, and that last part, taking it with a smile, is part of being a GM that is particularly hard. I mean, fact: you are working harder than the rest of the group, and on top of that you most likely are the one that actually bought the game materials and accessories, and on top of that it's very likely you're hosting, as well. It's not hard to see how a GM could become resentful of their "freeloading" players. Part of the answer to the OP's question is that I do think the role of GM attracts a few different types, one of those being the control freak who needs everything exactly their way. On top of all the mental health issues I've actually been DIAGNOSED with, I think I have a bit of an OCD/Control Freak thing going on too, but personally I try to harness my meticulous control of the game circumstances to maximize the players' enjoyment. I get very particular about lines on the Battle Mat, but I've never tried to tell a player what their character does.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ParanoydStyle, post: 7569355, member: 6984451"] Overall, I am probably one of the most miserable, vicious bastards you'll ever meet. EXCEPT when I'm GMing or DMing. Part of it is professionalism. Lots of the GMing I've done was of my own games at convention demos and the pressure was on to do a fantastic job (while being extremely patient and charming) in order to make the game I'm trying to sell look as awesome as it is. Part of it is pride. DMing is definitely the thing I'm best at, and it's also something I'm the best at of anyone I've ever met. So even though most days I hate everyone and act accordingly, not so while DMing. My thoughts are on having perfect form. Anyway, I'm just chiming in that I'm a misanthropic jerk of the highest order, and a very good GM (or so every player has told me), and the two are separate, and may or may not be at all related. Part of the answer to the OP's question is that GMing is freaking hard, and sometimes the hardest part is keeping your cool in the face of idiocy, ill manners, or both without losing your COOL. Players openly fighting over the spotlight and attempting to have their characters do terribly suicidal or flat out impossible things is all stuff a GM just needs to be able to take with a smile, and that last part, taking it with a smile, is part of being a GM that is particularly hard. I mean, fact: you are working harder than the rest of the group, and on top of that you most likely are the one that actually bought the game materials and accessories, and on top of that it's very likely you're hosting, as well. It's not hard to see how a GM could become resentful of their "freeloading" players. Part of the answer to the OP's question is that I do think the role of GM attracts a few different types, one of those being the control freak who needs everything exactly their way. On top of all the mental health issues I've actually been DIAGNOSED with, I think I have a bit of an OCD/Control Freak thing going on too, but personally I try to harness my meticulous control of the game circumstances to maximize the players' enjoyment. I get very particular about lines on the Battle Mat, but I've never tried to tell a player what their character does. [/QUOTE]
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Why does the stigma of the "jerk GM" still persist in our hobby?
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